Security Questions

[dawnball]

How do the security checks outside the parks work? I understand that there's a no-bag line, can you just shove your pockets full and go through that line? What about putting things in an under-stroller basket and going through that line? How long does it usually take?

I'm probably imagining security as worse than it is, but I haven't been able to find any descriptions of it.

Thanks!

 

[gydell]

Everything has to be looked into including things under the stroller.

 

[sunny04]

There are two lines, one for guest without bags and one for guest with bags. If you go through the no bag line, there are guards standing there that stop you if you have something like a camera,etc. Those cases have to be opened and shown to the guards as well. If you go through the bag line they look through all your items quickly. They just kinda poke through it all, they don't like dump everything out.

 

[danny1649]

Most of the time line moves quickly.If you have bag or backpack with zippered pockets just have zippers open where they can take a quick look.We have fanny packs and I carry a small back back and just have them open including pockets on the backpack and they take take a few seconds and wave us in.Just remember if you have camera bag,diaper bag,gift bag etc. just have it open for inspection and you will zip right through.

 

[faindrops27]

I am so glad they have security. I really like this idea.

 

[TDC Nala]

They don't search persons, only bags. Fanny packs and anything contained in a stroller are considered bags. Generally the security person will do a quick look-through of your bag. I had one at MGM who felt up my backpack, that's as thorough as they ever got. Only thing I've ever actually seen confiscated by gate security is a can of beer at Animal Kingdom.

If you can get everything into your pockets you can walk through the "no bag" entrance. The Epcot security usually backs up because it's right next to the turnstiles, and ticket issues (the turnstile won't accept the ticket, the turnstile eats the ticket, the person can't find the ticket, the person has to sort out tickets for a big family, the person has difficulty with the finger scan) tend to make things move through a bit slower.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

It really isn't that bad. Went the last week in August and never waited more than 2 minutes to have our bags "searched". The finger scanning thing is a different story, a real pain in the butt and they never seem to work right. We went to Epcot in the morning with no problem and then got to MGM that same night and the machine kept saying that DM wasn't DM....they did let us in though, once she was able to identify the name on her ticket. I think they have that problem a lot

 

[SammieG]

whilst I dont in any way object to them looking in my bag and am in agreement that there should be bag searches.. the security is a JOKE! It doesnt take long to go through.. as they dont check anything properly. Many times weve been through with a stroller packed underneath and they never look... I often say "do you want to look in the stroller?" and they glance at it.

A friend of ours at one point when I was looking for something to open a toy we had bought, brings out this huge knife he had on him!! They didnt find that!

I think its more there for show than anything else!!

 

[magicaldisney]

Interestingly enough, we happened to be at MK on Tom Sawyer island two years ago, and a big knife of some sort about 12" long was found on the ground. Security came to get it. They did a good job of covering it up and hiding it in their clothes to get it off of the island. But it shows you that things do get through the security check. We thought the next day when we went back security would have been a little tighter, but it wasn't. Go figure.

With all that though, we still feel safe in the parks.